Bam Adebayo scores 25 points, Heat hold off Clippers 120-119 following 3rd-quarter surge

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Norman Powell added 21 points in his return to Southern California and the Miami Heat held off the Los Angeles Clippers 120-119 on Monday night.

Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points and Kel’el Ware added 16 to help the Heat end a two-game losing streak and win on the road for the second time in five games. Miami is 1-2 to open a four-game trip.

James Harden scored 29 points and Kawhi Leonard added 27 as the Clippers lost at home for the first time in four games this season.

Ivica Zubac had nine points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles. Derrick Jones Jr., Bradley Beal and John Collins each scored 12 points.

The Heat shot 54.2% from the floor and made 12 of their 25 3-point attempts to 50% for the Clippers, who were 17 of 41 from long range. Los Angeles had 21 turnovers that the Heat turned into 37 points.

Miami led 120-116 after two free throws from Adebayo with 56 seconds remaining. Adebayo missed a shot inside with 26 seconds left and Harden made a 3-pointer on the other end with 20 seconds left to pull the Clippers within a point.

The Clippers had a chance to win it, but Leonard missed a 26-foot step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Clippers trailed by as many as 13 points in the third quarter before getting even 105-105 with 9:55 remaining on a 3-pointer from veteran Chris Paul.

Heat: At Denver on Wednesday night.

Clippers: Host Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.

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Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) argues with a referee after fouling a player from the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) and teammate Davion Mitchell (45) battle for the ball with Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, left, and teammate Davion Mitchell (45) battle for the ball with Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) celebrates his three-pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo may be on the verge of returning from the right calf strain that has kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ last eight games.

The Bucks issued an injury report that listed Antetokounmpo as questionable for Saturday's game at Chicago rather than ruling him out entirely.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.

“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”

The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.

Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)